Invalid-bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -1.

G. E. GORHAM. INVALID BEDSTEAD.

No. 559,973. Patented May 12, 1896.

uxl ll mm! mm 1 w 1 7 WWW ANDREW EGRAHAM PnoTuumD WASHINGTDNJC 2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. E. GORHAM. INVALID BBDSTEAD.

Patented May 12, 1896.

ANDREW EGRA HAM, PBOTDlm-IO WASHINEYONJ) C.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

GEORGE E. GORHAM, OF ALBANY, JEV YORK.

lNVALlD-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,97 3, dated May 12, 1896.

A licatio fil d December 12,1894. Serial No. 531,545. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. GORHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Bedst-eads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In Letters Patent of the United States granted to me September 11, 1894, No.525,952, I have described an invalid-bedstead wherein the bedbottom may be tilted longitudinally for the purpose of facilitating the insertion of a bed-pan beneath the invalid and for bringing him into a sitting position thereon and for the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the canvas strips of a stretcherframe beneath him and elevating him above the mattress thereby with ease and celerity.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the bedstead referred to, and more particularly to a modified construction of the gearing employed for tilting the bedbottom, a modified construction of bed-pan and bed-pan frame, automatic catches forsustainin g the stretcher-frame, means for relieving the strain on the gearing when the bedbottom is in the horizontal position,provisions for converting the bed-bottom into an operating-table by the ready removal of its head and foot boards, and generally to certain other details of construction, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a bedstead embodying my improvements tilted forwardly and with the bed-pan and bed-pan frame in position. Fig. 2 represents an end View, partly in section. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the bed-pan. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the bed-pan frame. Fig. 5 represents in full lines a side elevation of the bedstead tilted in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. l, and represents, by the aid of the dotted lines,the operation of em ploying a shoring-piece to elevate the stretcherframe. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the bedstead, showing the stretcher-frame elevated, the hand-wheel which operates the gearing being in part broken away. Fig. 1 represents an elevation of one of the removable end boards; and Fig. 8 represents, in detail, sectional views of one of the automatic catches and illustrates its manner of attachment to the side standard of the end board and its general mode of operation.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a indicates the supporting-stand upon which the bed-bottom is mounted, said stand being, for convenience and cheapness of construction, preferably formed of sections of gas-pipe connected up by sleeve-couplings brazed thereto, and being suitably braced by tie-rods and mounted on rollers, as shown.

The means for mounting the bed-bottom upon the stand is afforded by the brackets c, mounted to turn freely upon a stationary rock-bar b and secured by screws or the like to the side bars d of the bed-bottom, which side bars are also preferably of gas-pipe. At the ends of the side bars d are brazed the T- couplings (1, adapted for the reception of the end-board standards (1 of the bed-bottom, set-screws (Z being provided to lock the end boards in place or to permit their entire removal when the bed-bottom is to be used as an operating-table.

In suitable bearings on the stand is mounted to rotate the shaft 6, provided with a right and left hand thread, as shown, and having affixed to it the hand-wheel f. lVith the threads of the shaft engage the traveling nuts f f*, the rotation of the shaft by the hand-wheel in one direction causing the nuts to approach each other and its rotation in the opposite direction causing them to recede from each other, as is well understood. In order to render this movement available to govern the tilting of the bed-bottom, I connect the nuts to the sides of the bed-bottom by links g 9 swinging upon pivot-pins h, mounted in vertical lugs of the nuts, and upon pivot-pins h, mounted in lugs of the yokes 71; k, which are themselves freely suspended upon pivot-pins 73. It will thus be seen that the nuts are connected to the bedbottom by a universal joint made up of the links having a vertical swing and the yokes having a horizontal swing, whereby the bed- ICO bottom is freely tilted either forwardly or rearwardly, as the case may be, by rotating the hand-wheel in the one direction or the other. The connection thus established is one that operates with great ease and freedom from shook, and the gearing remains locked automatically wherever set. These characteristics are of special value in invalid-bedsteads by reason of the lessened difficulty of changing the position of the patient, the noiselessness and gradual charac ter of the change, and the security aiforded while operating the gearing and when the bed-bottom is brought into its new position. To relieve the strain on the gearing when the bed-bottom is in the horizontal position, I make use of a bent rod 5*, whose horizontal portion is journaled in bearings attached to the side bars (Z, and whose vertical portions furnish supports or braces. The rod is free to swing during the tilting of the bed-bottom and can be pushed in to the exact degree re quired to act as a support when required. It will of course be understood that the usual woven-wire bed m or other support for the mattress m and other bedclothing will be sustained by the bed-bottom in any suitable manner-for instance, by resting the end bars '0 of the woven -wire bed upon corresponding end bars i of the bed-bottom.

In my patent hereinbefore referred to I have explained in what manner the tilting motion of the bed-bottom is made available for raising the patient upon the stretcherframe while the bedelothin g is being renewed or ventilated. In the present case I make use of a similar stretcher-frame for the same purpose, and consisting of lengths of gas-pipe Z, for supporting the canvas cross-strips s and rods 8, and connected at their ends by the bent rods 9 adjustable by means of the setserews m said bent rods being adapted to cooperate with the shoring-piece .5- in the same manner described in my patent referred to and illustrated herein in Fig. 5. I have substituted, however, automatic catches for sustaining the stretcher frame from the end boards in place of the insertible and removable pins heretofore employed by me. The particular construction of these automatic catches, in their preferred form, is shown more fully in Figs. 7 and 8. They consist of part sleeves 71, either brazed to the end-board standards at predetermined heights or ad j ustable thereon byset-screws n, said sleeves having extensions or side wings, within which is pivoted a gravity-catch n. The construction is such that as the stretcher-frame is elevated the rods 9 raise the gravity-catches, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8. \Vhen they pass above the catches, the latter drop back to their original position, thereby formin g resting-places for the frame. This action being automatic lessens the attention required from the operator, the catches placing themselves in position to support the frame without his cooperation, and the possibility of accident from his want of care with respect to them being thus wholly avoided.

By reason of the capacity of the bed-bottom to be tilted to advantage and without discomfort to the patient I am enabled to use a form of bed-pan which maybe adjusted in position without raising his buttocks, and nevertheless without liability that the faces will be discharged otherwise than in the pan. I provide a bed-pan consisting of a flat base .2 substantially triangular sides 5 and a front The front is preferably provided with a suitable handle, and is inclined rearwardly at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the edge of the pannnouth. I'Ieretofore, so far as I am' aware, it has been customary to provide the bed-pan with an extension projeetin g above its rim or edge proper, and it was neces sary to raise the patients buttocks in order that this extension might be placed beneath them. In the use of my bed-pan, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the same security against soiling the bedelothes is afforded by simply raising the patients legs and pushing the pan well forward beneath them until the thin edge has advanced as far as it can, which will be sufficient for the purpose, whereupon, by tilting the bed forward into the position indicated in Fig. 1, the patient will find himself seated well forward and suitably over the pan. The pan .2 may be thus employed without other adjunct, but I prefer to employ, in connection with it, a suitable supportingframe, which I will now describe.

The bed-pan frame referred to, in its prcferred form, consists of a malleable cast-ing whose side bars 15 are shaped to receive lengths of gas-pipe 1v, lugs t upon the casting being then bent over the pipes 10 and secured thereto. Before this is done, however, a bent rod :0 is placed within suitable transverse grooves of the casting and becomes locked against removal, when the lugs are bent over as described, but with a capacity to swing freely within its bearings. The free ends of the rod are turned inwardly and are adapted to engage with rack-teeth on the under surface of a seat-frame :0, which is pivoted to lugs at the forward ends of the side bars of the casting, this seat-frame being of a size to inclose the upper edge or rim of the bed-pan. The pipes :10 are further provided with adjustable cross-bars :0 the former being provided with stirrups serving as foot-rests, and the latter serving to support the frame when the bed is in the tilted position by spanning a number of the uprights of the end board. An arm .2 is also provided, said arm being adapted to swing over and serve as a rest and support for the bed-pan when the latter is in position.

hen the bed-pan frame is employed, the bars and so are adjusted to suit the particular requirements of use, and the frame as thus adjusted and with the bed-pan in place, as indicated in Fig. 1, is an efficient safeguard against any liability of the bed-pan slipping from its proper position. It also relieves the bed-pan itself of the weight that would otherwise rest upon it, and by reason of the stirrups and the wider rim of the seatframe is more comfortable to the patient.

It will be noted that that surface of the bedpan which rests upon the bed,and which I have indicated at .2 in Fig. 3, makes an angle with the rim of the bed-pan mouth substantially equal to the angle of tilt necessary to bring the patient into the suitable posture for using the pan to advantage, such angle being about forty-five degrees, as indicated in Fig. 1. This relation of the bed-pan to the desired angle of tilt brings the rim of the pan when in use into substantially a horizontal plane, with corresponding convenience to the invalid, especially when the pan is used without the bed-pan frame. I may also state that, if desired, the frame inclosing the bedpan, and which I have designated in the claims as the border-frame of the bed-pan, may serve as a support for an upholstered cushion upon which the patient maybe comfortably seated, the tilting bed being thereby converted substantially into an easy chair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination of a stand, a tiltable bed-bottom mounted thereon and having rigid side bars, a powershaft supported in bearings in the stand and having right and left screw-threads, traveling nuts upon said shaft, yokes embracing the side bars and pivotally secured thereto, and links joined to the nuts and to the pivoted yokes; substantially as described.

2. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with the side bars of the bed-bottom, of T- couplings arranged on the ends thereof and forming sleeve-supports, the end boards having standards adapted to said sleeves, and set-screws for removably securing the end boards to the side bars; substantially as described.

3. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with a stand of a tilt-able bed-bottom mounted thereon, gearing interposed between the stand and bed-bottom at one side of the centor of support, for tilting the bedbottom, and a supporting-rest beyond said gearing and connected with the bed-botton1 for relieving the strain on the gearing when the bed-bottom is in the horizontal position; substantially as described.

at. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with a stand of a tiltable bed-bottom mounted thereon, gearing interposed between the stand and bed-bottom at one side of the center of support, for tilting the bed-bottom, and a supporting-rest beyond said gearing and connected with the bed-bottom for relieving the strain on the gearing when the bed-bot- 5. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with a stretcher-frame, of the end boards of the bed-bottom, and automatic catches for suspending the stretcher -frame therefrom as the frame is lifted; substantially as described.

6. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with a stretcher-frame, of the end boards of the bed-bottom, and automatic catches for suspending the stretcher-frame therefrom as the frame is lifted, said catches consisting of drop-latches hinged to permit the passage upward of the frame and to then drop into place to support the frame; substantially as described.

'7. In an invalid-bedstead, the combination with a stretcher-frame, of the end boards of the bed-bottom, and automatic catches for suspending the stretcher-frame therefrom as the frame is lifted, said catches consisting of sleeves attached to the standards ofthe end boards and having projecting lugs, pivot-pins within said lugs, and drop-latches mounted upon said pins; substantially as described.

8. In an invalid-bedstead, a bed-pan frame provided with means for supporting it against longitudinal movement on the bed-bottom, and having an incasing or border frame for the bed-pan rim and a swinging arm to hold the bed-pan in place; substantially as described.

9. In an invalid-bedstead, a bed-pan frame provided with means for supporting it against longitudinal movement on the bed-bottom, and having an incasing or border frame for the bedpan rim, said border frame being hinged to the main frame and provided with rack-teeth, and the main frame being provided with sustaining-arms adapted to engage said raek -teeth; substantially as described.

10. In an invalid-bedstead,abed-pan frame, having longitudinallyextending side bars provided at one end with a border frame for the bed-pan, and provided at the opposite end with a cross-bar adjustable upon the side bars, said side bars being adapted to project between uprights of the end board of the bedbottom and said cross-bar to rest against said uprights; substantially as described.

11. In an invalid-bedstead,the combination with the side bars of the bed-pan frame, of a cross-bar adjustable thereon and provided with stirrups extending beyond the side bars and serving as foot supports; substantially as described.

12. In an invalid-bedstead,the combination with the side bars, of a casting within which said bars rest, said casting being provided with turn-over lugs secured to the side bars, a bent rod held in place between the side bars and casting, and a border frame hinged to ends of the casting and having rack-teeth engaged by the bent arm substantially as described.

13. In an invalid-bedstead,the combination with a tiltable bed-bottom, of a bed-pan hav- IIO ing that surface which is to rest upon the bed bottom at an angle of about forty-five degrees to its upper rim, so that when the bed is tilted forward to seat the invalid upon the pan, its upper rim will lie in substantially a horizontal plane; substantially as described.

14. In an invalid-bedstead,the combination with a tiltable bed-bottom, of a bed-pan, having the mouth-rim edges of its sides flush with 10 the mouth-rim edge of the surface which is to rest upon the bed-bottom, whereby the necessity of having said latter surface project beyond the sides is avoided; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

GEO. E. GORllAl'l. Vitncsses:

DAVID A. THOMPSON, GEORGE W. STEDMAN. 

